Well I think that when you use your card somewhere they are actually supposed to check your ID and make sure the card is in your name. Then when you sign, they are also supposed to match signatures I think. But a lot of times cashiers are just going through the motions, let people swipe and sign the pad or paper and move on to the next person in line.

So technically, the merchant allowed the bad transaction to occur by not following the correct verification process when the card was presented. I have no idea what the legal repercussions of that failed verification are, but that is my guess as to why the merchant is in trouble.

Exactly my though. I'll add to it though.

The "friend" showed up with a stolen credit card to pay for work done to his car.

Did your friend have the work done in his own name or did he use the name on the credit card.

If he set up the repairs in his own name, then later showed up with a credit card with a completely different name on it, the merchant is as much as fault for accepting it. If this is the case, maybe the merchant has previously turned a blind eye to suspicious cards.

Then pay what is being asked for and consider himself lucky that he does not have felony conviction on his record

Do not pay and wait for the police to show up at the door and the Judge to order restitution and probation/jail time

If no proof exist:

Settle the $1K debt and tell the Merchant if he says anything you will turn him in for blackmail and both can go on your marry ways and thank the merchant for not turning his ass in. Also hope the merchant does not turn his ass into the CC company, since they may still press charges.

Pay the $1K debt and go get a lawyer and turn yourself in and see if you can work a deal to go after the merchant for blackmail and failure to report a crime. They may be more interest in this and let CC thief off with a warning.

Obviously it may not play out this way, since you can never control what another person may or may not do, but there are definite ways he can lessen the total impact. If he does nothing he can pretty much be certain the merchant will turn him in to either the CC company or the police or both. In all cases he is going to be out at least the $1K and possible more.

As someone else pointed out the merchant maybe trying to avoid a bigger issue himself you never know but try to get someone to pay $6k for an obvious $1K debt may indicate he no on the up and up himself.

Tell your friend to break into the merchants shop and steal his car back. and then hope the merchant doesn't know his real identity. He's already a criminal, what could go wrong?

That was funny, LOL.

As said before, after this, he is no longer in my life.

To clear a few things:

1. The car is in his name, credit card in a business name, the merchant knew this before processing and processed the transaction anyways over the phone without verifying any type of id.

2. He spoke to a lawyer and you are all correct, he got a voice recording of the extortion options that were given to him and will be headed down there soon.

3. The merchant didn't call the bank to verify the card, he processed the transaction then waited days later to call and report it as he thought it may of been fraudulent.

4.The merchant had no immediate proof, besides his word that he was charged, so this case pretty much looks like it's in the bag.

Thank you guys for all your responses and ideas. Slowly but surely as i've gotten older i've had to cut more and more people out my life because of their irrational decisions but...that's life i suppose.